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2nd Infantry Division NZEF WW2

A Brief History of the New Zealand 2nd Infantry Division

 

NZEF hat badge

Pioneer Battalion Hat-badge

The 2nd New Zealand Division fought many of its campaigns in the Mediterranean region. Our first was in Greece during April, 1941. This was a disaster from the outset and mostly based on political, rather than military, reasoning. A combined German and Italian force caused the NZ and Australian units to to engage in a fighting retreat, until they were eventually evacuated at the end of April. Due to the necessary speed of the evacuation, many of our ordnance had to be left behind, also including 1,800 NZ soldiers who were taken prisoner.

The following Cretian campaign was little better, with nearly half our forces on their way to Egypt. The remnants of the 2nd NZ Div (of course aided by their ANZAC cousins) prepared to defend the island of Crete from the expected German air/sea assault, of course without any of their own support from the air or sea. The German's dropped 2,500 of their elite paratroopers onto Crete and were almost defeated, but a communications breakdown (coupled with a lack of equipment) saw Maleme Airfield in German occupation by the end of the day. From this foothold, the Germans continued to pour troops into Crete, forcing a full evacuation by the end of May.

During this time, members of the 28th (Maori) Battalion learned what was to become a trademark taste for enemy weapons. Since most of their weapons were left in Greece, the 28th were in short supply - especially of heavier support weapons. As the Germans para-dropped their ammunition canisters for their own troops, the 28th soldiers would open them up and distribute the weapons they found inside. This practice continued into campaigns in the Middle East until they were forced to relinquish the enemy weapons under threat. (in fact the acting OC of the 28th lost his command over refusing to enforce this particular order) By this time the 28th had also "requisitioned" several trucks to be able to carry all this equipment around in.

After the Cretian defeat, the 2nd NZ division was reunited in Egypt and attached to the British, 8th Army in November. The battles in Libya were hard fought and the better equipped German troops again defeated our troops and caused a fighting retreat on all fronts. The German advance was halted at El Alamein when Australian and NZ forces first caused the German forces to retreat. This continued right back across Libya with the Germans in Africa capitulating in Tunisia, May 1943. The 2nd NZ Division was then sent back to the Mediterranean, eventually to join the allied armies in Italy.

Here the NZers fought bravely in many of our famous battles, such as at Orsogna and Cassino. But that story is for another time...

Timeline of the New Zealand 2nd Infantry Division

  • 1919

    • NZ signs the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WW1.

  • 1934

    • The RNZAF is formed under Army control.

  • 1937

    • The RNZAF becomes a separate entity.

  • 1938

    • NZ promises UK 1000 pilots per year in the event of war.

    1939

  • April

    • NZ receives the first Bren Carriers from the UK.

  • September

    • NZ declares war on Germany, 3 Sept. 9:30pm.

    • Maori community request a Maori unit to be formed.

  • December

    • Battle of the River Plate, a German pocket battleship, the Graf Spee, is sunk.

    1940

  • January

    • 1st Echelon departs for the Middle East, 5th Jan.

  • February

    • 1st Echelon disembark at Maadi Camp near Cairo.

  • May

    • 2nd Echelon sails and is redirected to Great Britain.

    • 28th (Maori) Battalion are also part of this force.

  • June

    • NZ declares war on Italy, 11th June.

    • Echelon arrives in Scotland.

  • August

    • Home Guard is formed from men 40-60 years old.

    • 3 Echelon leaves for Middle East.

  • September

    • First major raid on Berlin. No. 75 (NZ) Squadron take part.

    • 3 Echelon arrives at Maadi camp.

1941

  • January

    • Formation of No. 2 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron

    • 2 Echelon sails for Egypt, via Cape Town

  • February

    • Maj. Gen. Freyberg receives orders to move to Greece.

  • March

    • No. 485 (NZ) Squadron is formed in Britain

  • April

    • 2nd NZ Div engage in a fighting withdrawal with Australians to avoid being surrounded by the combined German and Italian forces.

    • 2nd NZ Div is evacuated from Greece, some to Crete, some to Egypt. Many are forced to surrender.

  • May

    • 7702 NZ troops land in Crete.

    • German paratroopers begin Airborne invasion, 1500 troops are air dropped in total.

    • 5000 troops evacuated from Crete by the end of May.

Written by Ruru Paora

http://anzac.mdsnews.com/History/Default.asp
2nd DIVISION 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF)

A listing of the NZ units to see service in the Mediterranean during World War Two; only the main New Zealand (rifle) battalions and Armoured (tank) regiments have been listed below. Information by Jon (JonS) Sowden

On the outbreak of the war New Zealand committed to providing a New Zealand division for use in Europe. However, due to the very small size of the Regular Army, the division had to be raised in three echelons of roughly a brigade group, each about six months apart. By early 1941 the Division was assembled in Egypt, and ready for action. It was sent on the ill-fated mission to Greece in early 1941, with most of the Division was subsequently withdrawn to Crete. Defeated once again in the May airborne assault, the Division re-formed in the Nile Delta area and was again ready for action in time for Operation Crusader in November. 

Triumphant, though heavily blooded, the Division was then sent to Syria. Tasks there included occupation duties, preparing defences against a possible German thrust south out of Russia, and to rebuild its strength. Rushed forward after Rommel’s victory at Gazala and Tobruk in June 1942, the Division narrowly avoided encirclement at Minqar Qaim. It was prominent in the battles at El Alamein, and the Division again suffered heavy losses, eventually leading to 4th Bde being withdrawn due to heavy losses, and eventually re-roled as an armoured brigade. Following the successful breakout in November, the remaining parts of 2(NZ)Div advanced across North Africa all the way to Tunisia. 

At the end of hostilities in Africa the Division once again returned to the Nile Delta to rest, refit, and re-organise. In late 1943 the complete Division moved to Italy, and was involved in the winter fighting on the Adriatic coast. Early in 1944 the Division moved in great secrecy across to the Monte Cassino area, where it was engaged in a couple of fruitless offensives. After the breakthrough in May, 2(NZ)Div fought northwards towards Florence, then moved back to the Adriatic Coast. Over the winter of 1944-45 the Division again re-organised. 

27th (Machine Gun) Battalion and the 2 NZ Divisional Cavalry Regiment were re-roled as New Zealand, and the Division fielded three New Zealand brigades and one armoured brigade for the final battles of 1945. In mid-April the offensive began and within days the Division, assaulting across a series of rivers, had broken through the German lines. The race was then on, and the Division didn’t stop until it reach Trieste in northeast Italy – where it almost became involved in the first battle of the Cold War with Communist Guerrillas from Yugoslavia.
Composition Major Battles
  • 4th New Zealand Brigade (until Aug 1942)
    • 18th New Zealand Battalion
    • 19th New Zealand Battalion
    • 20th New Zealand Battalion
  • 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade (from Oct 1943)
    • 18th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
    • 19th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
    • 20th New Zealand Armoured Regiment
    • 22nd New Zealand Motor Bn ( Oct 1943- Nov 1944)
  • 5th New Zealand Brigade
    • 21st New Zealand Bn (til Aug 1942 & Nov 44/ Feb 45)
    • 22nd New Zealand Battalion
    • 23rd New Zealand Battalion
    • 28th (Maori) Battalion
  • 6th New Zealand Brigade
    • 24th New Zealand Battalion
    • 25th New Zealand Battalion
    • 26th New Zealand Battalion
    • 27th New Zealand Battalion ( Nov 44 until Feb 45)
  • 9th New Zealand Brigade (from Jan 1945)
    • 27th New Zealand Battalion
    • 22nd New Zealand Battalion
    • Divisional Cavalry Battalion
  • 10th NZ Brigade(May 41)
    • 20th NZ Battalion
    • 1st NZ Composite Battalion
    • 6th Greek Regiment
    • 8th Greek Regiment
  • Greece
    • (Mar – Apr 41)
  • Crete
    • (May 41)
  • Op Crusader
    • (Nov – Dec 41)
  • Minqar Qaim
    • (Jun 42)
  • El Alamein
    • (Jul – Nov 42)
  • Lybia – Tunisia
    • (Dec – May 43)
  • The Sangro
    • (Oct – Dec 43)
  • Monte Cassino
    • (Feb – Mar 44)
  • Central Italy
    • (May – Dec 44)
  • Adriatic Coast
    • (Apr – May 45)

     

Notes:

1) The New Zealand battalions of 4, 5, and 6 NZ Brigades moved between the brigades as operational circumstances dictated. This was particularly the case for 28th (Maori) Battalion since it was an ‘extra,’ above the normal war establishment for an Infantry division. The affiliations shown above are the way the brigades arrived in Egypt in their echelons, and the way they ‘usually’ worked together. After about December 1942 and the breakout from El Alamein there was far less swapping around.

2) 10th NZ Brigade was formed on Crete, and only served there. 1st NZ Composite Battalion was also formed on Crete from stray Gunners (artillerymen without guns), Sappers (engineers with no other taskings), Troopers (Divisional Cavalrymen with no recce vehicles), and RASC men (drivers and cooks without trucks or kitchens). Their performance was mediocre, though much better than the 6 and 8 Greek Regiments. These two battalion-sized units virtually disintegrated on the first day of the battle. 6th NZ Brigade, and its three battalions, evacuated from Greece direct to Egypt, and played no part in the Battle of Crete.

From http://members.shaw.ca/madorosh/divsnz.htm
 

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